Illuminated ornamental object



Dec. 9, 1930. E. B. WILSON ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL OBJECT Filed Dec. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR EM (34 loci 5M BY A ATTORNEY Dec.9,1 930.' E, BWILSON- 4 1,784,474

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL OBJECT Filed Dec. '7, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1930. r B. wl s o 1,784,474

ILLUMINATED ORNAMENTAL OBJECT Filed Dec. '7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY 6P MArQJ 1 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES EDWIN BIRD WILSON, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK ELUMINATED OBN'AIENTAL OBJECT Application filed December 7, 1927. Serial 110. 288,302.

This invention relates to ornamental objects constructed from sheet material and relates more particularly to a system or arrangement for illuminating such objects.

I have disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 174,516, filed March 11, 1927, a method of constructing ornamental objects from a plurality of profile members so proportioned and fitted together as to resemble a three dimensional object. One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a system for illuminating ornamental objects similar to those disclosed in the said application.

According to the present invention I ropose to illuminate such ornamental ob ects by providing a plurality of lamp bulbs positioned in apertures cut in the profile members forming the object. These lights are preferablymounted in the plane of the profile members and may be held inposition by auxiliary clamping means cooperating with the apertures in the profile members or by making the aperture small enough so that the lamp has to be forced into it in such manner that it is held in its proper operating position. Likewise, instead of placing the lamps entirely in the plane of one profile member they may be placed at the intersection of a plurality of profile members in which case it would not be necessary to provide any auxiliary means for holding the lamp in place as the plurality of profile members intersecting at an angle to each other would form a sort of pocket for holding the lamp. These lamps may be merely plain lamps for illuminating purposes or may be made to represent difierent objects such as candles, or fruit, where the ornamental object represents a fruit tree. For example, when itis desired to illuminate a Christmas tree constructed in the manner above mentioned plain lamps may be used and these may be placed at random throughout the portion of the material '45 representing the treeor may be made to represent candles, stars or other objects and placed at the most advantageous positions in the tree. Where the ornamental object is a fruit tree, the lamps may be placed among the branches in such manner as to represent the fruit and when so used the bulbs might be colored more clearly to represent fruit, that is, where the ornamental object is an orange tree the bulbs should be made in the form of an orange and colored yellow, while if an apple tree were represented the lamps might be made red. A bouquet of flowers might also be constructed in the same manner as the ornamental trees which I have described and in such cases the lamps might go be made to represent flowers of different kinds. Where the lamps are made to represent objects in the above manner it may be found desirable to fashion the apertures to represent the object also.

These and other objects and advantages and the manner of accomplishing them will be more clearly set forth in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 represents in elevation a Christmas tree illuminated in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view'ofthetree shown in V Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manner of fastening the lamp in its proper position. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along lines 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates an ornamental fruit tree having lamps representing fruit, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of tree constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views showing the details of construction of the tree shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 illustrates a hanging lamp embodying certain features of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a view showing the details of concates a Christmas tree set in a flower pot.

The tree 1 consists of two profile members 3 and 4 cut to conform to the profile of a Christmas tree and. painted or otherwise 'marked to represent the branches of a Christmas tree. Positioned in the planes of profile members 3 and 4 are a plurality of electrlc lamps 5 and 7 which are interconnected with a common lamp cord 6 which may be connected with any desired source of electricity.

I have illustrated a plurality of lamps 5 set in the planes of the profile members and also some lamps 7 set at the point ofintersection of the two planes so that the light therefrom shines outwardly in all directions over thetree. 7 The lamps 5 and 7 are placed in the 'usual form of socket 8 and may be held in position in the tree in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the lamp and socket both are forced half-way through the profile memberin which it is fitted and are held in the proper position by a plurality of projections 9 formed on the edge of the aperture 10 within which the lamp and its socket is fitted. In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 another form of lamp holding I means is illustrated. In these figures, refer ence numeral 5 indicates one of the lamps for illuminating the object, the lamp being placed in a socket 8 and positioned in an aperture 10 in the profile member. The lamp socket is held in its proper position by means of a member 11 which is provided with a slot 12 which cooperates with a slot 13 in the profile member in such manner as to hold the member llat right angles to the profile member. This construction provides a pair of holding means mutually at right angles which hold the lamp socket in its proper position. The jaws of the member 11 may be made of flexible material so that they can be bent slightly in order topermit the lamp and its socket to be placed in position, after which the member 11 can be bent back so as to hold the lamp socket. In carrying out my idea the tree and lamp socket holding means may be made of any material desired such as cardboard, fibre, metal or wood. The member 11 as stated before should be made slightly flexible at its jaws so that the lamp socket can be inserted in its proper position. illustrated in Fig. 7 consists of a pair of profile members 3. and 4 which are cut to represent the profile of a' fruit tree and assembled in such manner as to intersect each other mutually at right. angles. Reference numeral indicates lamps constructed to represent sheets of material, 14: and 15 fashioned to the outline of an evergreen'tree and painted or The obj ect otherwise decorated to simulate such a tree covered with snow. The tree as shown is represented as set in a flower pot 16. In this tree the lamps 20 are positioned in irregular apertures 21 made to. represent openings among the branches of the tree. While the object illustrated is an evergreen Christmas tree, the invention is equally well a plicable "to other objects such as fruit trees, ushes or bouquets. In any event the lamps may bepositioned in apertures in the profile sheets, cut irregularly to represent openings among the individual portions of the object and the lamps may, of course, if desired, be made to represent other objects such as candles or fruit as set forth above. These openings may be made relatively long so that lamp bulbs can be easily removed and replaced. a

The tree shown is constructed 'of two pro:

file members fitted together" mutually at right angles, by means of slots out therein and held against relative rotation by means of a third member 17 having slots 18 for engaging with the said profile members. This third member is positioned in slots 19 in the profile members as best shown in Fig. 10. The lamps 20 are held in their proper positions by means of gripping members 22, which are similar to members 11shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The

gripping members 22 are made relatively long so that they extend inwardly through openings 23 in the profile members at the point of intersection thereof, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. As the gripping members extend through the profile-members they serve additionally to hold these members in their proper relative positions.

I It will be noted that the tree shown has a star 24 at the top thereof. This star is formed integrally with the profile members and serves to hold a lamp 25.

In Fig. 11 reference numeral 26 indicates a member constructed of relatively thin material and fashioned after the profile of a growing flower, a bouquet of flowers, a plant or the like. Intersecting portions of the member26 are a plurality of profile members i '27. and 28. These profile members are fitted together with the member 26 by means of slots substantially in the same manner as gripping members 22 of Fig. 8. In Fig. 11 the profile members 28 perform the same function as the gripping members shown. in Fig. 8, butprofile member 27 of Fig. 11. This member 27 has a. base portion 29 and a pair of ears i 30, similarly to member 26, which also serve to grip the plate 31 This member is provided with slots 33, similarly to the members 28, for interlocking the same with member 26. Member 26 is provided with a plurality of apertures 34 for containing electric lamps which are held in position by means of profile members 27 and 28 which are provided with similar apertures 35. Profile members 28 are constructed similarly to profile members 27 except that they have no wide base portion 29, but project through openings in base plate 31 and are bent over in the manner set forth above.

' While I have illustrated the objects as being constructed from a pair of profile member-s, it will be understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration and that more profile members may be used if desired. Also, while I have illustrated the lamps as positioned directly in the plane of the profile members. it will be understood that they may be placed at one side thereof within the scope of my invention. Furthermore the lighting feature of my invention is applicable to objects constructed of profile member-s of other constructions and held together in other manners than that disclosed, for example, by

gluing or the like.

The specific embodiments of the invention which I have described in detail are intended merely for the purpose of illustration and therefore various modifications and adapta tions such as would occur to one skilled in the art-may be made without a departure from the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an ornamental object, a plurality of profile members assembled by intersection to represent the object, apertures in the body of said members remote from the axis of intersection thereof and electric lamps positioned in said apertures, said lamps being held in position by means of a flat member having a slittherein for cooperating with the profile member, said slitcoa'cting with thesaid member in such manner as to hold it at right angles adjacent to said lamp.

2. In an ornamental object, a plurality of profile members having slits therein, said members intersecting each other at an angle by means of said slits, an aperture in the body of one of said profile members for receiving and holding an electric lamp, a gripping member for holding said lamp in position. said member projecting through an opening in the other of said profile members.

3. In an ornamental object, a plurality of profile members joined together at an angle, and means cooperating with an opening in the body of one of said members for holding an electric lamp, said means coacting with another of said members to hold said profile members in a given relative position. 

